Aravind Rao

aka Aravind Rau

Actor

Summary

Aravind Rao, also known as Aravind Rau, is an Indian actor who works predominantly in the Kannada film and television industries. He is known for his impactful supporting performances and portrayals of police officers, antagonists and other character-driven roles. Before entering the entertainment industry, he worked as a journalist, including a stint with Vijaya Karnataka. His transition from journalism to acting came unexpectedly, following encouragement from director M. K. Matha, who helped introduce him to television acting. Rao has since developed a career spanning Kannada cinema and television serials.

One of Aravind Rao's most recognisable film appearances was in RangiTaranga (2015), the Kannada mystery thriller directed by Anup Bhandari. He portrayed Inspector Basavaraj Haadimani, a police officer involved in the film's mysterious events. The film received widespread attention and became an important milestone in his acting career. Rao subsequently appeared in Kannada films including Tarak (2017), Dia (2020), 1980 (2021), Dear Sathya (2022), Chase (2022), Gadayuddha (2023), Ranchi (2023) and Appa I Love You (2024). His filmography reflects his versatility across thrillers, dramas, crime stories and commercial entertainers.

Rao has also maintained a strong presence on Kannada television. He became familiar to serial audiences through Nandagokula, in which he portrays Nandakumar. The series brought him back to television after a period focused largely on films. In a 2025 interview, he discussed his transition from journalism to acting and recalled how his early interest in playing police officers influenced his screen career. He also explained that after receiving recognition for his performance in RangiTaranga, he was increasingly offered police roles, before developing a greater interest in negative and complex characters.

His more recent film credits include Hiranya, Vidyarthi Vidyarthiniyare, Hide and Seek, Radheyaa, Flirt and GST. In Vidyarthi Vidyarthiniyare (2024), he played a news channel chief editor, while in GST (2025), he portrayed Ramesh. He also appears in Urabba (2026), continuing his work in Kannada cinema. His upcoming project Partner is listed for 2027.

Aravind Rao's career reflects a distinctive journey from journalism into acting, followed by years of work across films and television. Through memorable character roles in RangiTaranga and his continued presence in Kannada serials such as Nandagokula, he has established himself as a familiar supporting actor in the regional entertainment industry. His experience across different formats and genres continues to make him a recognisable face in Kannada storytelling.